File checking and proofing
This optional extra is relevant when you
plan to supply artwork in a print ready form. It enables you to have the
artwork technically validated for printing using our process. This means your
files will be guaranteed to print as you would want them to. To complete the
check we need the originating application files. We need these because to do
the check thoroughly means we’ll go through every element used to build your
design. The check itself covers all the things set out in Direct from Disk –
put simply this means we check for size, bleed, colour, resolution and printing
incompatibilities. Depending on the complexity of the artwork, we may complete up
to 22 different checks. We’ll fix everything we can and when we can’t, we’ll advise
you on what we think are the best things to do. And of course, since you’ve had
your file checked, its only appropriate that you see a proof of your artwork
before it goes to print – so that’s included in the price. Since we want
everyone who supplies artwork to be able to do it hassle free, we always give
you full feedback on your file. Our objective is to help you learn how to
supply technically valid files and avoid file checking in the future.
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Design and copywriting services
This optional extra is relevant when you
want us to craft artwork and text for you. Design is always relevant no matter
what the product is - business card or booklet – since it’s about composition,
layout and use of colours as well as fonts. Copywriting only becomes necessary when
your requirements need text to explain a product or service you may have.
Copywriting is the art of writing text that explains and sells what you do in
the best possible way. More complex products require both services.
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Delivery to a named address
If you pick up your print from us there’s
no delivery charge – it’s free. You see we get loads of deliveries all together
making it so cheap we’re prepared to carry the cost. However, we know sometimes
you may need your print to be delivered somewhere else – an exhibition or
mailing house. When this happens there’s a small charge to cover the costs of
the exclusive delivery.
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Removal of die-cut waste
This is only relevant when you’ve had a
die-cut product like a shaped sticker or business card. When a product is
die-cut it is ‘stamped’ out by a large ‘cookie cutter’. Practicalities of
production mean that the product isn’t fully cut out and is held in the
printing sheet by tiny links. This means when your order is delivered it’s
usually still within the sheet it was stamped from. However, if you want your
printing completely ready to use the surrounding excess can be removed by us.
Because this is a separate production process, there’s a separate charge for
doing it.
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Plain packaging
Your print will be delivered to you in a
box. The box has the printing.com logo on the side. However, maybe you’d prefer
this not to be the case – perhaps you’re a designer and you’d rather your
client didn’t know where the print came from. Well we can help – if you request
plain packaging you’ll get just that with no references to printing.com on the
outside or inside the box. Because this is a special packaging requirement, we
do need to make a small charge for doing it.
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Payment by credit card
When you pay by credit card you’re deferring
your actual payment of the bill – the credit card company pays us at the time
and effectively gives you a loan until you decide to pay them back. Now whilst
they only charge you interest if you don’t pay in full the same month as the
transaction, they do levy a charge on each transaction to us (in this way they
get their interest payment for the first month of your loan). We could opt to
build a small allowance into everyone’s bill to cover this but we don’t think
that’s fair – why should people pay for things they haven’t bought? Instead, we
pass the charge on to those people who decide to use credit cards. There are no
such charges for payment by any other means.
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Website structure design
Despite all the whizzy graphics and flash
animations, this is the most important aspect of your website. Why? Because if
your browsers can’t easily use your site and get what they need form it,
they’ll move on. So, given what you do, what’s the best way of presenting
information to your browsers? What are the things that need to be logically
presented in an easily accessible order and what are the things that are needed
but are best accessed through other pages? To be technical, we’re talking “usability”
here, not content. Website structure design is about answering these questions
and increasing the “usability” of your site. We’ll use our expertise to create
a website map that’s right for you in your circumstances. The map will set out
what should be your menu pages, what should be your linked pages and how the
two fit together.
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Additional menu pages
On a website the menu pages are the ones
you can always see referenced when you’re in any part of the website. They are
the main pages that together comprise the core of your website. Our standard
web brochure has 5 menu pages. But given what you do, it may make sense to have
more. We can create websites with up to 3 extra menu pages. Each additional
menu page costs a minimum of £79. Remember there may be additional charges for
each page depending on what other optional extras you want.
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Linked pages
Linked pages are the ones you get to from
individual menu or other linked pages. This means typically they’re used to
explain a particular point in detail (when there’s a lot of detail needed). We
can build you a website with up to 20 linked pages and the cost for these pages
varies, depending on how many you need. The first 5 cost an extra £49 each; 6
to 10 pages cost £44 each; and 11-20 pages cost £39 each. Remember there may be
additional charges for each page depending on what other optional extras you
want.
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Individualised page design
All websites have an overall design theme
to them. Usually you’ll see this as a common header and footer across all
pages, but it could be more things as well. Some people, however, want their
sites to be much more individual with each page being entirely different from
the previous. Well we can do this but it will require more time and effort in
the creation of the website. Hence the additional charge.
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Image sourcing and preparation
Websites benefit greatly from the use of
images be that for entirely artistic reasons or because they help you better
explain what you do. Whilst we’re more than happy to place your images onto
your site, you may need appropriate images found for you. If this is the case
we’re happy to scour various stock photography sites and source potential
images for you. Once you’ve decided which ones you want we’ll then make them
web friendly and prepare them for use on your site. All this takes additional
work by us so we make a small charge for doing it.
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Placement of multiple images/page
Included in the price of your website is
the placement of one image/page, whether we’ve sourced it or not. If you want
more than one image/page this will mean more work for us, hence a small charge
is made.
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Typing in of supplied copy
We’re happy to place your copy onto your
website – provided you’ve supplied in a form we can readily cut-and-paste such
as Microsoft Word. Supply us with written copy and we’ll need to type it in and
proof read it. That takes time. You can see where this is going…
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Copywriting
Maybe you don’t have the time; maybe you
just want some inspiration; or maybe you’re not much of a writer when it comes
to the text on your website. We can help through our copywriting service. Now,
we’re not about to invent words here so this service will involve a meeting
with our copywriter. They’ll go through each page of your site with you, agree
the key messages for the page and work with you to understand the substance of
what needs to be said. Naturally, there’ll be a proofing stage to get the copy
90% right, but for absolute polish we’d advise you use the Update Centre you
get FREE with us to wordsmith your copy completely to your satisfaction.
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Creation of icons, montages etc.
Sometimes you just need a symbol to attract
attention or represent a theme on your site. For example a button with a
picture of David Bellamy’s head on it to link with your environmental page, or
a series of merging pictures running across the header of your website. Now we
love doing little ditties like these but they do take time and effort plus you
need to proof and approve them. And all this takes creative time and effort.
You can see where this is going…
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